Artists Describing Their Art:

Kerry La Mountain - I am drawn to events and images that are powerful. The human spirit that is challenged oftentimes becomes fragile and small. I want to convey the emotion of the situation through the figures in relation to their surroundings. Cosmos Series My work explores my love of abstraction, and finds inspiration in the incredible power and beauty of the universe, its colors, light, and mystery. My inspiration came from brightly colored photographs of galaxies, star nebula, and comets, as well as the theoretical shape of the universe and time. This series, entitled, Cosmos, explores translucent painting surfaces, such as glassine paper, acetate paper and plexiglass, as well as various methods of paint application in order to achieve various effects. The transparency is important in that the viewer can look deeper into the work, the light can shine through it and allow for viewing from both sides. I am working with formal concerns, such as composition and figure/ground relationships. I want the composition to bring about the feeling of chaos within a mysterious order. Darfur, Sudan Series The conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan in 2004 was a horror. Many people had to flee from certain death from militia groups. ...

Deborah Robinson - I was once told that "to be taken seriously as an artist you need to think of yourself as one"....a very true thought. In the beginning I had thought of myself as someone who made dolls..just to give for gifts to friends and family....then a fantastic doll artist saw my creations and questioned as to why I wasn't thinking of myself as an artist..that I had talent and a love of what I do..yet I wasn't letting others enjoy my art...and that I needed to promote myself and let others have the means to purchase one of my sculptures. To humor her I listed one of my dolls..a faery named Fuchsia and another an elf I named Mugwort..pricing my work was an adventure in itself but with help I was taught what was required...2 days later both dolls were sold! Lesson learned...believe in yourself and others will too!...

Max Tolentino - I do not think of art as a rationalization of an artistic thought or perhaps I am not still able to think this way. What fascinates me is the exercise of art; it is doing something that can express my personal point of view of things and the perception and the expression of the world as I see. Anything that carries human significance may cause me an emotion with the same intensity that I see at any museum in the world. Art is an emotional and intellectual product to me. Since my late starting in arts I have been sculpting my way in the artistic scenario with a differenced curiosity so that my overture to this environment gives me a privileged position. Doubts - no doubt - will arise, as my works transit between the formalism and the concept, between the beautiful and the political in art. But the doubts belong more to the one who sees then to me. Maybe I want to go further than the cultural concepts i?1/2 not that I pay much attention to it - but perhaps one day appreciating from outside I may glimpse a chance to be inside thus contributing in a certain way to this world ...

Gadadhar Das - Artist Statement: The Proper Counseling & Guidance can change the neglected & destitute street Children as a perfect human being. I think, the discarded Tree Roots & Branches would be an attractive Art object in the same way. I collect the discarded tree roots from Forest & roadside those are lying for destroy by fire or any other way. I try to identify the basic structural pieces of the roots and branches of various trees, driven by naturally possessed artistic vision and then shaping them to various final forms like Hindu Deities, Animals and various others objects etc., which are entirely hand made sculptors out of specially selected single pieces of roots and branches of trees of various shapes and sizes. I look forward sincerely for my work to earn its due appreciation among the art lovers. ...

Eric Fluckiger - "I want my work to thrill, be uncanny, weird. By alluring viewers with fascinating objects and images, I hope to engage a reflection on issues relating to the theme of transition in contemporary life. Finally, I am committed to creating sculptures and photographs which appeal to the viewers on an emotional, visual level." Education: *MA Fine Art from City & Guilds of London Art School (2004 - 2005) *Masters Degree in Mathematics from University of Geneva (1982 - 1988) ...

Paul Orzech - Paul Orzech Sculpture Studio Artist Statement: The heart of my artwork is expressed by the words "Classical form with a modern edge." As an artist, I feel the need to incorporate the classic concepts of the human figure from the Ancient Greek and Italian Renaissance periods, with the more message-oriented elements of today's art. My belief in the beauty and power of the raw human form is exquisitely celebrated in the classical forms of sculpture. The modern themes I treat in my art include feminism; contemporary ideas of spirituality and love; and the all consuming presence time plays in our fast-paced American lives. I feel there is a quiet strength in the combination of established classics and contemporary expression that demonstrates a smooth continuity of social history. ...

Tracy Buchanan - By using the human figure as a point of departure for sculpture I am trying to communicate an earthly, and emotional experience, an experience that could perhaps recall for someone an emotion or memory, or possibly generate a new sensation. We can all relate to the human figure, because we all inhabit one. The body acts as its own language, one of which is universal. We all occupy our own unique form, yet physically we share our makeup with all humankind. The work that I am producing is figurative in form and emotional in content. ...

Cheryl Ehmann - Originally from Michigan, I now live in Montana where I studied under master woodcarver, Dan Schnetter. I have always been interested in modeling a shape from either wood or clay. I worked in commercial art in Denver in 1978-1979 and began sculpting seriously in clay for the past 12 years. I have always had an intererst in the "Old West" and the diversified cultures that inhabited the plains. I study my subjects well and try to depict eye pleasing results and spirtual awareness in the sculptures I create. I sculpt with a realistic perspective. I hope to visually stimulate you to identify with each piece. To sense the pain, the joy and many journeys traveled. Look beyond lifes "template" - look into the soul! Feel the pride, the passion, the will to live! All of my sculptures are finely detailed so that you may feel the message of each piece. I shape, smooth and etch each line & contour to depict the proud, the fight, the playful. Each piece is then taken to the foundry, and under my supervision, cast in bronze with various tones of Patina to clarify and bring out the effect I am looking for. Each piece has ...

Gabor Bertalan - CURRICULUM VITAE I WAS BORN IN SALGOTARJAN, HUNGARY IN 1956. I ATTENDED SCHOOL IN BUDAPEST. I LEARNED SCULPTURAL ARTS THROUGH PRIVATE CHANNELS, PARTLY IN HUNGARY UNDER THE DIRECTIONS AND WITH THE HELP OF ATTILA BOBALY AND JOZSEF SOMOGYI, AND PARTLY IN MENTON, FRANCE. IN 1996 I ATTENDED THE SUMMER ART ACADEMY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED ARTS IN BUDAPEST. I HAD INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS IN THE MADACH GALLERY OF SALGOTARJAN IN 1993, IN THE SERBIAN CHURCH OF BALASSAGYARMAT IN 1997, AND IN THE UJPEST GALLERY IN 2004. GROUP EXHIBITIONS: 1993: SZECSENY 1995: BUDAPEST, MENTON 1996: BALASSAGYARMAT, SALGOTARJAN, NAGYATAD 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005: SALGOTARJAN - SPRING EXHIBITION, OPEN-AIR SCULPTURE EXHIBITION 2000: CANNES 2005: NAGYATAD, NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF WOOD SCULPTURES SZECSENY, WINTER EXHIBITION - PRIZE OF THE TOWN OF SALGOTARJAN CURRENTLY I LIVE AND WORK IN BUDAPEST. INITIALLY I WORKED EXCLUSIVELY WITH WOOD. NOW THE MATERIAL OF MY SCULPTURES IS MAINLY WAX AND BRONZE CAST AFTER A WAX MOULD. MY THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND THE PLASTIC FORMS GUIDED BY THE FORMER ARE FOCUSED ON TWO MAIN CONCEPTS: "NATURALNESS AND SIMPLICITY" ...